Twin window fans



Aug 21, 1956 A. s. KNAPP 2,759,412

TWIN WINDOW FANS v Filed NOV. l5, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l 2F/5.1. FWN 1m-J .I2 ,II` 30 7; I7 W i y `li W WIWI @WIL )l Aug. 21, 1956 A. S. KNAPP2,759,412

- TWIN WINDOW FANS FiledkNOV. l5, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United tatesPatent() TWIN WINDW FANS Andrew S. Knapp, St. Louis, Mo., assgnor toKnapp- Monarch Company, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of DelawareApplication November 15, 1952, Serial No. 320,701

9 Claims. (Cl. 98-94) This invention relates to twin window fans andmore particularly to a window ian construction which is so designed thattwo of the fan units, each in its own housing, may be stacked eitherside-by-side or in vertical position so that they may be placed in anopen window and used for circulating air either into or out of the room,`or by certain adjustments of the fans, out through one housing and inthrough the other.

One object of the invention is to provide a fan structure including ahousing that can be located in a window opening, a motor and fan beingmounted in the housing for drawing air into `one face of the housing anddischarging it from the other, provision being made for electricallyconnecting two of the housings together so that individual controlswitches, each for the fan of its respective housing, may be 4operatedindependent of each other, the fans being mounted for reversal in theirhousings so as to eiect discharge of air from either face of eitherhousing and thereby providing for intake through one fan and outputthrough another, intake through both, or output through both as desired.

Another object is to provide a fan structure of the character disclosedwhich may be used individually instead of as a twin Ventilating fan andthe housing being so constructed that the fan can be rotated on 'an axisfor adjustment of angle, the axis being either vertical or horizontalyas desired for effecting adjustment of the angle of air ow in eitherthe horizontal or the vertical plane.

Still another object is to provide a fan structure which may be used asa room or desk fan as well as a window fan if desired.

A further object is to provide twin window fans and automatic remotecontrol means therefor which can be manually reset for response to adifferent room temperature and can also be used to turn oit the fans.

With these and `other objects in view, my invention consists in theconstruction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of mytwin window fans, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, ashereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims andillustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is an elevation of my twin window fans showing them mounted ina window opening and illustrating a room thermostat and oi switch forremote control of the fan.

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional View on the line 2 2 ofFigure l showing how the fan may be mounted in the housing foradjustment to throw the air in various desired directions.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail of the upper portion of Figure 2, theparts being shown in section.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of two of the units illustrating how theymay be combined in side-by-side relation to form a twin window fan.

Figure 5 shows one of the units separate as when used for a desk fan.

Frice Figure 6 shows two of the units stacked in a vertical arrangementas for use in a easement window.

Figure 7 is a horizontal sectional View on the line 7 7 of Figure lshowing the relationship of the fans when used sideby-side in a windowopening.

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view through the fan. unit when rotateddegrees from the position shown in Figure 5 so that the adjustment ofthe fan can throw air upwardly rather than at an angle laterally as inFigure 7; and

Figure 9 is an electro-diagrammatic view of the electrical connectionsin the fan unit.

On the accompanying drawings l have used the reference numeral lti toindicate a housing. The housing it? has openings 12 and 14 in theopposite faces thereof. Within the housing it? a fan motor lo isprovided. Fan blades it?, are mounted thereon and the usual guard 20surrounds the blades.

The motor i6 is mounted as by means of rods Z2 and 24, and brackets 26and 28 as shown in Figure 2 so that it can be adjusted as for instanceshown in Figures 7 and S. The rod 24 is journalled in a bearing 30 andthe rod 22 in a bearing 32. A knob 34 on the rod 22 serves to rotate therod and thereby adjust the fan for purposes which will hereinafterappear. To retain the adjustment a detent pawl 36 (see Figure 3) maycoact with one of several detents 38 in the knob 34 in an obviousmanner.

For supplying current to the motor lo, l provide an input connector d@projecting from one side of the housing 19 and an output socket 42 inthe other. These are connected by electrical conductors 44 and 46 asshown diagrammatically in Figure 9 and each housing 1t? is provided withan ott and speed control switch 4S for its respective motor 16. This isshown diagrammatically in Figure 9 connected with a choke coil 56 foreffecting the various speed changes of the fan motor in the usualmanner.

To supply current to one or more of the tan units, l provide n supplycord 52 adapted to be connected with a series plug 54 which in turn isconnected to the usual wall outlet 56. A cord 58 extends laterally fromthe plug 54 to a combination room thermostat and ori switch 69. Thus theswitch 60 may `automatically control the operation of the motors 16 froma remote position and this position may be, for instance, on 'a nightstand, the switch 60 also having the oil position illustrated so thatthe fans can be turned oit without the user having to walk in front ofthem, to gain access to the control switch 43 thereon.

Twin window fans of the character disclosed, when made up in two squaresections as shown, each compris ing an individual fan unit, have theadvantage that these units can be sold not only for twin window fan dutyin a single room but also for use as a table or floor fan by separatingthe twin units and using the individual square units. Also they can beused as small window fans in two separate rooms when the individualsquare sections are thus separated.

Alternatively these two units can be stacked side-byside as in Figure lor vertically as in Figure 6 for fitting the window opening availablewhen they are coupled next to each other in the tandem manner shown inFigure 7. The knobs 34 may be manipulated for directing the air of bothfans into or out of the room, or one in and the other out as they happento be shown in Figure 7. Also the -direction of the blast can becontrolled in an obvious manner.

The units can be separated as in Figure 4 for use in different positionsor one of the units may be used merely by itself as a desk fan or thelike as shown in Figures 5 and 8. In FigureS the axis of adjustment forthe fan is 3 vertical the same as in Figure 7 so that the air blast canbe turned sidcwise as desired. In Figure S the axis is horizontalinstead of vertical so that the air blast can be directed upwardly ordownwardly as desired.

Thus the fan unit has great utility and is universal in itsapplications. Also the novel connector arrangement for the electriccircuit of the unit with the plug 4t) at one end and the socket 42 atthe other and in alignment so that the units can be arranged in tandemas desired, makes the device particularly suitable as a twin window fan.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of theparts of my twin window fans without departing from the real spirit andpurpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claimsany modied forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which maybe reasonably included within their scopo.

I claim as my invention:

l. In a window fan, a housing adapted to be positioned in a windowopening, said housing being substantially hollow and comprising parallelspaced face portions and parallel spaced side portions interconnectingsaid face portions, said face portions having openings 'therein toprovide a flow passage through said housing, a motor therein, a fandriven by said motor to draw air into one of said face portions of saidhousing and discharge it from the other, the plane of rotation of saidfan being substantially parallel to and axially aligned with said faceportions, an input connector projecting outwardly from one side of saidhousing, an output socket in the opposite side of said housing andaligned with said input socket whereby a plurality of said housings maybe connected in tandem, a pair of electrical connectors from said inputconnection to said output socket, and a control switch in series withsaid motor and connected with the motor across said electricalconnectors.

2. In a window fan, a housing adapted to be positioned in a windowopening, said housing being substantially hollow and comprising parallelspaced face portions and parallel spaced side portions interconnectingsaid face portions, said face portions having openings therein toprovide a ow passage through said housing, a motor therein, a fan havingan inlet and an outlet side driven by said motor to draw air into one ofsaid face portions of said housing and discharge it from the other, saidmotor being swingable about an axis to vary the position of the inletand outlet sides of said fan with respect to said housing face portionsto eiect discharge of air from either of said face portions and to varythe direction of air relative to said housing, an input connectorprojecting from one side of said housing, an output socket in theopposite side of said housing and aligned with said input socket wherebya plurality of said housings may be con nected in tandem, a pair ofelectrical connectors from said input connection to said output socket,and a control switch in series with said motor and connected with themotor across said electrical connectors.

3. In a window fan of the character disclosed, a housing adapted to bepositioned in a window opening, said housing being substantially hollowand comprising parallel spaced face portions and parallel spaced sideportions interconnecting said face portions, said face portions havingopenings therein to provide a flow passage through said housing, a motortherein, a fan driven by said motor to draw air into one of said Vfaceportions of said housing and discharge it from the other, the axis ofrotation of said fan lying in va plane substantially perpendicular tosaid housing face portions, an input connector projecting outwardly fromone side of said housing, an output socket in the opposite side of saidhousing for tandem connection of a plurality of said housings together,a pair of electrical connectors from said input connection to saidoutput socket, and electrical connections therefrom to said motor.

4. A window fan comprising .a housing adapted to be positioned in awindow opening, said housingbeing sub.-

stantially hollow and comprising parallel spaced face portions andparallel spaced side portions interconnecting said face portions, saidface portions having openings therein to provide a flow passage throughsaid housing, a motor therein, a fan having an inlet and an outlet sidedriven by said motor to draw air into one of said face portions of saidhousing and discharge it from the other, said motor being swingableabout an axis to vary the position of the inlet and outlet sides of saidfan with respect to said housing face portions to eiect discharge of airfrom either of said face portions and to vary the direction of airrelative to said housing, an input connector projecting outwardly fromone side of said housing, an output socket in the opposite side of saidhousing, a pair of electrical connectors from said input connection tosaid output socket, and electrical connections therefrom to said motor.

5. In a window fan, a substantially hollow housing comprising spacedface portions and interconnecting side por-tions, said face portionsbeing apertured to provide a flow passage through said housing, a motortherein, a fan driven by said motor to draw air into one of said faceportions of said housing and discharge it from the other, the axis ofrotation of said fan lying in a plane substantially perpendicular tosaid housing face portions, an input connector projecting outwardly fromone side of said housing, an output socket in the opposite side of saidhousing and aligned with said input socket whereby a plurality of saidhousings may be connected in tandem, a pair of electrical connectorsfrom said input connection to said output socket, a control switch inseries with said motor and connected with the motor across saidelectrical connectors, and a room thermostat and o switch forcontrolling said motor, said room thermostat and ol switch having a cordconnection with said input connectors to provide for remote control ofsaid motor.

6. In an air circulating system including an air reservoir, a confinedspace in which air is to be circulated, a window opening providing flowcommunication therebetween, the improvements comprising a pair ofidentical fan units, each of said fan units comprising a substantiallyhollow housing having spaced face portions and interconnecting sideportions, said face portions being apertured to provide a flow passagethrough said housing, a motor within said housing, a fan driven by saidmotor to draw air into one of said face portions of said housing anddischarge it from the other, the axis of rotation of said fan lying in aplane substantially perpendicular to said housing face portions, saidmotor being adapted for adjustable positioning within said housing tovary the position of the inlet and outlet sides ,of said fan withrespect to said housing face portions to effect discharge of air fromeither of said face portions and to vary the direction of air relativeto said housing, means for electrically connecting said .fan unitstogether in tandem, comprising an input connector projecting outwardlyfrom one side `of each of said housings, an output socket in theopposite side of each of said housings, a pair of electrical connectorsfrom the input connection to the output socket of each unit, and acontrol switch in series with said motor and connected with the motoracross the electrical connectors of one of said units, said pair of fanunits when so connected being positioned with adjacent sides thereof incontacting engagement to form an integral assembly substantially llingthe entire area of said window opening, whereby flow communicationtherethrough may be regulated by said fans, one of said fans beingoperative to effect air ilow through said housing in a first direction,the other of said fans being operative to eiect air tlow in a seconddirection opposite to said first, thereby providing a completecirculating cycle between said air reservoir and said confined space.

7. In an air circulating system including an air reservoir, a connedspace in which air is to be circulated, a window opening providing ilowcommunication therebetween, the improvements comprising a pair ofidentical fan units, each of said fan units comprising a substantiallyhollow housing having spaced face portions and interconnecting sideportions, said face portions being apertured to provide a ow passagethrough said housing, a motor within said housing, a fan having an inletand an outlet side driven by said motor to draw air into one of saidface portions of said housing and discharge it from the other, the axisof rotation of said fan lying in a plane substantially perpendicular tosaid housing face portions, said motor being swingable about an axis tovary the position of the inlet and outlet sides of said fan with respectto said housing face portions to eiect discharge of air from either ofsaid face portions and to vary the direction of air relative to saidhousing, means for electrically connecting said fan units together intandem, comprising an input connector projecting outwardly from one sideof each of said housings, an output socket in the opposite side of eachof said housings, a pair of electrical connectors from the inputconnection to the output socket of each unit, and a control switch inseries with said motor and connected with the motor across theelectrical connectors of one of said units, said pair of fan units whenso connected being positioned with adjacent sides thereof in contactingengagement to form an integral assembly substantially illing the entirearea of said window opening, whereby flow communication therethrough maybe regulated by said fans, one of said fans being operative to eiect airow through said housing in a iirst direction, the other of said fansbeing operative to effect air iiow in a second direction opposite tosaid iirst, thereby providing a complete circulating cycle between saidair reservoir and said coniined space.

8. In a window fan, a housing adapted to be positioned in a windowopening, said housing being substantially hollow and comprising parallelspaced face portions and parallel spaced side portions interconnectingsaid face portions, said face portions having openings therein toprovide a iiow passage through said housing, a motor therein, a fandriven by said motor to draw air into one of said face portions of saidhousing and discharge it from the other, the axis of rotation of saidfan lying in a plane substantially perpendicular to said housing faceportions, an input connector projecting outwardly from one side of saidhousing, an output socket in the opposite side of said housing andaligned with said input socket whereby a plurality of said housings maybe connected in tandem, a pair of electrical connectors from said inputconnection to said output socket, and a control switch in series withsaid motor and connected with the motor across said electricalconnectors.

9. A window fan comprising a housing adapted to be positioned in awindow opening, said housing being substantially hollow and comprisingparallel spaced face portions and perpendicular pairs of parallel spacedside portions interconnecting said face portions, said face portionshaving openings therein to provide a flow passage through said housing,a motor therein, a fan having an inlet and outlet side driven by saidmotor to draw air into one of said face portions of said housing anddischarge it from the other, said motor being swingable about an axis tovary the position of the inlet and outlet sides of said fan with respectto said housing face portions to effect discharge of air from either ofsaid face portions and to vary the direction of air relative to saidhousing, said axis being parallel to one of said pairs of housing sideportions and perpendicular to the other, said housing beingalternatively positionable on its side portions with said axis verticalor horizontal, whereby the direction of air flow may be varied in eithera horizontal or vertical plane, and input connector projecting outwardlyfrom one side of said housing, an output socket in the opposite side ofsaid housing, a pair of electrical connectors from said input connectionto said output socket, and electrical connections therefrom to saidmotor.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,055,592 Reed Sept. 29, 1936 2,174,050 Willett Sept. 26, 1939 2,346,779Muehling Apr. 18, 1944 2,474,369 Ray June 28, 1949 2,476,692 BernsteinJuly 19, 1949 2,598,774 Fields et al June 3, 1952 2,617,348 Sutton Nov.11, 1952 2,619,023 Kisling Nov. 25, 1952 2,620,721 Krauss Dec. 9, 19522,626,742 Turner Jan. 27, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 495,130 Germany Apr. 2,1930

